Artificial coasting-course



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. PUSEY.

ARTIFICIAL GOASTING COURSE. No. 318,026. Patented May 19, 1885.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Mm/ JWZM/ "I'll a am I ywdmwg No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 2.

v J. PUSEY.

ARTIFICIAL GOASTING COURSE.

No. 318,026. Patented May 19, 1885..

lgimi I i i N. PETERS. Phzmrliihcgmphm, wnshin tnn, 0.6.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. PUSEY.

' ARTIFICIAL GOASTING COURSE. No. 318,026. Patented Ma y 19, 1885.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR llNiTEb STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA PUSEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTIFICIAL COASTlNG-COURSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,026, dated May 19,1885.

Application filed July 24, 1884. (K0 model.)

To all whom it may concerm Be it known that I, JOSHUA PUSEY, a citizenof the United States, residing at the city and county ofPhiladelphia,and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in Artificial Coasting-Courses, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, a portionof the side boarding, platform, and roof at one end being broken away,showing the steps by which the coasters and spectators ascend to theplatform; Fig. 2, a plan view, the roofs of the end platforms beingremoved; Fig. 3, Sheet 2, a perspective; Fig. 4, Sheet 1, a sectionacross one of the rail trackways, taken in front of the car; Fig. 5,Sheet 2, alongitudinal section in a vertical plane passing just in frontof the middle line of the car upon the track. Fig. 6, Sheet 8, is a sideelevation of part of a car, showing an automatic stop device forpreventing the cars from retrograding under certain circumstances. Fig.7 is plan view showing a modified form of stop device as in operation.Fig. 8 is a perspective view of said device detached.

The same reference-letters, where they occur in the several figures,indicate the same parts.

The invention relates to an artificial coasting or sliding course orhill consisting of a continuous railway composed of two longitudinaltracks, upon which cars are adapted to run, ascending in oppositedirections to end platforms of substantially the same altitude, asshown; also to the combination, with said trackways and cars, of meansforpreventing the cars from running backward under certaincircumstances; also to the combination, with the railway, of lateralhand-rails, whereby the occupants of the cars are enabled to draw thesame up, without quitting their seats, beyond the point where theirmomentum is overcome in ascending the incline opposite the one they havejust descended in position for making a succeeding descent.

The invention is an improvement upon, or

.in some respects a modification of,an artificial coasting-course forwhich I filed an application for Letters Patent on the 21st day of Jannary, 1884, Serial No. 118,221; but I do not claim herein any matterthat may be claimed in the specification of Letters Patent which mayissue upon said applicatiom'nor will there be claimed therein any matterclaimed herein.

Referring now to the annexed drawings, R are two rails supported by asuitable framework and ascending in opposite directions, similar to acatenary curve, and connected upon end platforms, B, of substantiallythe same height, whereby the cars may be run around continuously uponthe track or tracks.

0 are hand-rails at the side or sides of the track, extending around thecurves at either end,and also some distance beyond, as shown. Theserails are supported by posts, and so placed as regards height andproximity that, while there shall be no danger of the sides ofthe carstriking said posts, the passengers sitting in the cars D canconveniently reach the rails and pull themselves and the cars on upbeyond the point at which the momentum of the car acquired in descendingthe opposite incline is overcome, and around the curves, as here inafterexplained.

'The rails R and the ears are of ordinary construction, the latter beingprovided with seats and flanged wheels, as usual.

In order to obviate any danger of the cars running off the rails, Isecure, preferably midway between the latter, two Z-shaped beams orrails, E, held to the cross-pieces f of framework V by means of bolts 9in a manner to leave a longitudinal slot, S, as seen most clearly inFig. 4..

To some part of the car D, preferably at each end thereof in linevertically with slot S, I secure rods H, extending down to and en teringsaid slot, and provided each with a cross-head or enlargement, I, widerthan the slot. In Fig. 5 this enlargement at the rear end of the car isa roller, and at the forward end a simple transverse bar. Either may,however, be used. They are of such dimensions with relation to the spaceat embraced by the top and sides of the aforesaid Z-beams that they willhave ample play within said space, so as not to interfere with themotion of the car, yet not sufficient vertical play to per mit thewheels to rise up off the rails to a height greater than or somewhatless than the difference between the diameter of the flanges and thetread of the wheels respectively. It is obvious that by the use of thiscontrivance it is impossible for thewheels to fly the track. It is notusually necessary that the Z-beams should extend around the curves, asthe motion is slow at those points.

I prefer to construct the device at the forward end ofthe car so that itmay be used, if required, as a brake. To this end I make a screw-thread,7c, on a portion of rod H, and a corresponding thread in a box, Z, thetop of the rod extending above the platform of the car and provided witha hand-wheel, a, in position to be conveniently operated by an occupantof the front seat of the car. Ordinarily, the position of the parts issuch that the crosshead I runs freely within the space m,- but whenrequisite to check or arrest the motion of the car the hand-wheel isrotated in the proper direction, which brings the upper side of the headI against the under side of the overhanging part of the Z-beams, andthus if sufficient forceis applied the car will quickly be brought to astandstill.

Part of the longitudinal portion of the railway is or maybe laid uponthe level platforms B, upon which also the curves 1) are laid, as shown.

The mode of operation is as follows: The riders passing through thegateways or breaks q, Fig. 2, in the outer handrails seat themselves inthe car, which is then started by an attendant, or by the occupantsthemselves, seizing hold of the rails O and pulling. The car runs downthe one incline and up the opposite one until its momentum is overcome,when it comes to a stop (a suitable automatic stop or brake, suchashereinafter described, being used to prevent the car from running back)at a point beyond the forward end of the hand-rails, whereupon theriders may draw themselves and the car on up to and upon the platformsB, as mentioned, or they may thus take hold of the rails before the carhas come to a stop, and thereby propel themselves on up to the curveand, if desired, around the same, and, further, if they wish, give thecar an impetus sufficient after descending the succeeding incline to runnearly or quite up to the summit of the opposite hill, or the car may bepushed up by attendants or drawn up by some suitable motive power beyondthe stopping-point.

One form of automatic stop (with a modification thereof) for preventingthe cars from running back down the inclines when their momentum isovercome is shown on Sheet 8 of .the drawings. It consists in the use,in combination with one or more of the carwheels w, Fig. 6, of aninclined box, 00, attached beneath the frame D of the car, which box isopen next the adjacent periphery of the wheel,and it contains anindia-rubber ball, I). WVhen the car is moving forward-that is, in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 6-the ball rides freely upon the wheel; butthe instant the car tends to run backward the ball jams between the rimof the wheel and the rear wall of the box, which gradually contractstoward its lower end.

In a modification of stop device shown in Figs 7 and 8 one or morein thepresent instance two on each sideinclined boxes on,

widening out toward their upper ends and containing rubber balls I), aresecured on the inside of side rails, y, at about the points where thecars come to a stop, and in such position that said balls will come intocontact with the side frame, D,of the car just before their momentumacquired in descending the opposite incline is arrested. It will beobvious that the balls will ride up into the upper wider or deeperportion of the boxes; but the moment the car beginsto retrograde saidballs soonjam against the side frames of the car, respectively, and thushold the latter in place.

In order to always retain the balls within the boxes, I make the latteras shown in Fig. 8-that is, with lateral flanges ff, the space betweenthe opposite edges of which constitutes a slot, 8 8, whose width is lessthan the diameter of the ball, thereby allowing a part of the latter toproject from the slot beyond the flanges a sufficient distance into thepathway of the 'cars.

The automatic stop also performs a partic ularly useful and, in fact,practically indispensable function, when, as will sometimes occur, thebulk of the travel is in one direction, and it becomes necessary toreturn the cars empty upon one trackway at the same time the.laden carsmay be running upon the other.

The hand-wheel brake, &c., hereinbefore described, may also be used toprevent the cars from running back, but of course not operatingautomatically as constructed. I do not wish, however, to be understoodas limiting myself to the several devices shown for preventing the carsfrom running back down the inclines, as any skilled mechanic can readilysubstitute therefor equivalent devices adapted to operate or to beoperated to perform a similar function.

In order to utilize the considerable space lying between the oppositetracks, I cover over said space with a smooth flooring, K, having alongitudinal division or rail, 25, in the middle. This flooringconstitutes a trackway which is designed and adapted for a coastingcourse or hill upon which roller-sleds or ordinary runner-sleds (inwinter) may run. The coasters, starting from either one of the platformsB, glide down the one incline and on up the other until their momentumis overcome, which, of course, is at a point some distance from thesummit. Here the coasters get off their sleds and walk up to theplatform, the cross-slats X being laid to prevent slipping, ifnecessary, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 2; or the sleds with theiroccupants may be carried on up the remainder of the distance by means ofsuitable mechanism and motive powersuch, for example, as that de- ICCscribed in my aforesaid application for Letters Patent filed January 18,1884.

A car loaded with riders may be started down one of the inclinedtrackways R at the same time that another car is starteddown the inclineat the opposite or alternate end of the other track in the oppositedirection, the cars passing each other at about the lowest depression ofthe respective double inclines, as indicated by the position of the twocars in Figs. 1 and 3. The sleds also pass each other going in oppositedirections, as shown, all of which adds to the interest and enjoyment ofthe sport.

I may also state that I intend combining with the cars a motor to bebrought into operation automatically just before the stoppingpoints inthe inclines are reached, and apply sufficient propulsive force to carrythe car and riders on up to the summit of the hill, whereupon the saidmotor is automatically stopped, or perhaps immediately after it hasimparted sufficient impetus to the car to carry it up and clear over thesummit of the succeeding hill of the series, and so on continuously, ifdesired. This, however, I purpose making the subject of a futureapplication for Letters Patent.

The flooring K, it will be observed, is also the roof for the spaceunderneath, which being boarded up on the sides forms an inclosure orapartment, 0, adapted for use as a bowling-alley, shooting-gallery, &c.,the same being lighted by windows W. Thus at the same time that the carsmay be running on the railway and the roof or flooring K occupied by thecoasters other amusements may be carried on within the gallery 0, thusaffording a variety of entertainment by the same struct ure.

The rails B may, if desired, be diversified with one or moreundulations, as indicated by the dotted outline U, Fig. 1.

The cars may be provided with grooves or guideways (in lieu of wheels)adapted to fit over and upon the rails, the contact-surfaces being keptgreased or lubricated in a suitable manner. This obviates the noise ofrolling wheels, which in some locations it is desirable to avoid asbeing highly objectionableas, for example, in the built-up portions ofcities.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the longitudinal trackwaysarranged to form inclines ascending in opposite directions, the endplatforms of substantially the same altitude or in the same horizontalplane, the cars or coasting-vehicles, and means for preventing the samefrom running backward down the inclines, all substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a railway having inclines ascending in oppositedirections, the hand-rails O, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. The combination, with a coasting-trackway, of the car or vehicle andthe inclined box or boxes and ball or balls contained therein, allconstructed and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposerecited.

4. The combination of the longitudinal double trackway arranged to forminclines ascending in opposite directions, the end platforms, the cars,and automatic stop devices, all constructed and adapted to operatesubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature this 23d dayof July, A. D. 1884.

JOSHUA PUSEY.

Witnesses:

J OHN NOLAN, FRANCIS S. BROWN.

